DECATUR, IL – Frank Small of Xtreme Towing & Recovery is a repossession agent and he says that in today’s economy business is booming. He notes that often businesses rely on him to do some form of investigative work as well as repossession, since he often has to find delinquent customers – and their assets – before repossessing. He has repossessed everything from kitchen cabinets to cars and tractors. Small works closely with PIs to find and recover property that has not been paid for.

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LONDON, ENGLAND – Elin Nordegren, wife of troubled golfer Tiger Woods, has hired a PI, allegedly to check Woods’ assets and wealth, possibly as a precursor to divorce proceedings. Nordegren will likely divorce Woods in California, where divorce laws tend to be more generous to ex-spouses. Nordegren likely wants to know the full extent of Woods’ wealth before filing. Experts believe the pro golfer is worth about $1 billion.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – IT has shaped the PI industry in the 1990s and the first decade of the 2000s. In the 1990s, some unscrupulous PIs were buying information from people who were using computer technology to legally access the information. By the early 2000s, some experts claim PIs were using Trojan horses to glean information from computers. Experts note that due diligence investigations and investigations for assurance have become more important over the past two decades as high-profile cases of fraud (such as the case involving Bernard Madoff) have come to light. Security cases have also become more important, especially after September 11, 2001. This has meant that PIs have had to hone a whole new set of skills. While in the early 1990s computer technology skills were a nice asset for a PI to have, They are now a mainstay of the business.

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LONDON, ENGLAND – For weeks now, PInow.com staff have been following the story of PIs hired by news organizations to gain private information about celebrities. New reports suggest how a network of PIs gained the information. The PIs allegedly were able to gain access to records held by phone companies, social security, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the police and British Telecom. They also allegedly misled the post office, banks, hotels, trade unions and prisons into releasing sensitive information. It is illegal to access much of this information unless there is a public interest to reveal the information. Despite this law, more than 400 journalists made over 17,500 requests for private or sensitive records. British Telecom seemed to be targeted frequently and was often tricked into revealing private numbers and home addresses. Victims who had personal information about them revealed include John Cleese, Prince Charles’ personal assistant, Tiggy Legge-Bourke, Bill Wyman, and others. The case is still being investigated.

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – In a recent interview, asset hunter Fred L. Abrams, revealed that he has helped recover tens of millions of dollars. Abrams is an attorney who often helps clients recover money hidden in offshore hideaways. Many clients he works with have been duped through RICO, money laundering, fraud, and other crimes. Abrams notes that many criminals use multiple jurisdictions to slow down the search. By moving between jurisdictions, the criminals can often slow down the progress of regular courts, which rely heavily on correct jurisdictions. Many criminals are also heading overseas, where other nation’s laws sometimes provide a safe haven and where searches are more difficult. Overseas, criminals often set up shell companies or use other means to disguise assets.

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Anyone involved in a civil suit likely has an attorney to represent them legally. More and more plaintiffs, though, are finding that consulting with a civil investigator as well as an attorney can produce better legal results.

In October 2006, 3,000 pounds of seudoephedrine (a substance used to make the illicit and very addictive drug methamphetamine) were sized in a Kearny, New Jersey warehouse by federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents. The tip off that the drug was there came from civil investigators. In October 2006, as well, civil investigations into alleged price fixing by airlines led to the resignation of two high-level directors at airlines.

The truth is, civil investigators get results and often work closely with criminal investigators to uncover fraud, harassment, and other criminal activity. Attorneys often use civil investigators to gather information and evidence needed to win civil cases. However, and increasing number of plaintiffs are hiring civil investigators on their own. By hiring both an investigator and attorney, some plaintiffs are finding they can enjoy better results as well as more control over their cases. For example, plaintiffs involved in a drawn-out sexual harassment lawsuit against Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office were able to gather evidence of inappropriate language through civil investigation.

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Don’t be a victim you can get the money owed to you

Maybe you are a creditor who is owed money by a debtor - and you are told that the debtor has no money to pay his or her debt. Or, maybe you are getting a divorce and your spouse is claiming that they have no assets and so should not have to pay you support or alimony. Or, maybe you are an employer who notices some unusual patterns in the account books.

In each case, are you stuck with accepting the situation at face value - even if it means losing money? read more »

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